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James1234 Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary

Well, actually... ??

Hi,
I heard many times, ppl saying " well, actually...then they wil add on to it saying some thing,,"

Can anyone tell me when to use it ?? Thanks Emotion: smile
  

Top answer

" tends to preface information that might be unexpected or surprising. Sometimes it can degenerate into a mere filler -- a way to ease into a sentence -- that has little actual meaning. It is usually used when responding to a question.

— Mr Wordy

  • " tends to preface information that might be unexpected or surprising.
  • Sometimes it can degenerate into a mere filler -- a way to ease into a sentence -- that has little actual meaning.
  • It is usually used when responding to a question.
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2 Answers
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"Well, actually..." tends to preface information that might be unexpected or surprising. Sometimes it can degenerate into a mere filler -- a way to ease into a sentence -- that has little actual meaning. It is usually used when responding to a question.
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Yes. And it also sometimes prefaces a polite demurral, an offering of a different opinion, or a declining of an offer.

A: Would you like to go to the art gallery tomorrow to see that Picasso retrospective?
B: Well, actually...I have already arranged to meet someone.....
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